Leaving Your Fishing Shanty Out Could Land You A Big Fine

The Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that March 1 was the deadline for removal of ice fishing shanties in southern Lower Peninsula counties. It's also a general rule for anglers to remove shanties as soon as the ice is unsafe to hold them, regardless of the date.

After mandatory removal dates, shanties may be placed on the ice on a daily basis, but must be removed at the end of each day's fishing activity.

Shanty owners who allow the structures to fall through the ice are subject of penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines (of not less than $100 or more than $500) or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse the government for an amount of up to three times the cost of removal.

For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.